1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; establishing grant programs for career and technical 
1.3 	education needs; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT GRANTS.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Grant program established. A grant program is established to 
1.7 	support school districts in providing career and technical education programs. Grants must 
1.8 	be used to purchase equipment for career and technical education classes.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Application. The commissioner of education shall develop the form 
1.10 	and method for applying for the grants. The commissioner shall develop criteria for 
1.11 	determining the allocation of the grants to achieve an equitable distribution based on need.
1.12 		Subd. 3.Grant awards. Grant funding under this section must be split equally 
1.13 	between school districts with any portion of their territory within the seven-county 
1.14 	metropolitan area and all other school districts.
1.15 		Subd. 4.Reports. (a) School districts that receive grant funds shall report to the 
1.16 	commissioner of education no later than November 1 of each year following the grant 
1.17 	receipt regarding the equipment purchased that was funded by the grant program.
1.18 	(b) By February 1, 2017, the Department of Education shall submit an interim report 
1.19 	on the program to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through 
1.20 	grade 12 policy and finance. The interim report must include:
1.21 	(1) the method and accompanying rationale for how need was determined; and
1.22 	(2) which districts received money in year one of the program and what the grants 
1.23 	were used for.
2.1 	(c) By February 1, 2018, the Department of Education shall submit a final report 
2.2 	on the program to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through 
2.3 	grade 12 policy and finance. The final report must include:
2.4 	(1) any changes to the method for how need was determined;
2.5 	(2) which districts received money in year one of the program and what the grants 
2.6 	were used for;
2.7 	(3) the ongoing necessity of the grant program; and
2.8 	(4) any recommended changes to the program if it were to continue.

2.9 	Sec. 2. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STAFFING GRANTS.
 2.10 		Subdivision 1.Grant program established. A grant program is established to 
2.11 	support school districts in providing career and technical education programs. Grants must 
2.12 	be used to hire instructional staff for career and technical education classes.
2.13 		Subd. 2.Application. The commissioner of education shall develop the form 
2.14 	and method for applying for the grants. The commissioner shall develop criteria for 
2.15 	determining the allocation of the grants to achieve an equitable distribution based on need.
2.16 		Subd. 3.Grant awards. Grant funding under this section must be split equally 
2.17 	between school districts with any portion of their territory within the seven-county 
2.18 	metropolitan area and all other school districts.
2.19 		Subd. 4.Reports. (a) School districts that receive grant funds shall report to the 
2.20 	commissioner of education no later than November 1 of each year following the grant 
2.21 	receipt regarding the staff hires funded by the grant program.
2.22 	(b) By February 1, 2017, the Department of Education shall submit an interim report 
2.23 	on the program to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through 
2.24 	grade 12 policy and finance. The interim report must include:
2.25 	(1) the method and accompanying rationale for how need was determined; and
2.26 	(2) which districts received money in year one of the program and what the grants 
2.27 	were used for.
2.28 	(c) By February 1, 2018, the Department of Education shall submit a final report 
2.29 	on the program to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through 
2.30 	grade 12 policy and finance. The final report must include:
2.31 	(1) any changes to the method for how need was determined;
2.32 	(2) which districts received money in year one of the program and what the grants 
2.33 	were used for;
2.34 	(3) the ongoing necessity of the grant program; and
2.35 	(4) any recommended changes to the program if it were to continue.

3.1 	Sec. 3. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION INNOVATION GRANTS.
 3.2 		Subdivision 1.Grant program established. A grant program is established to 
3.3 	support school districts in providing career and technical education programs. Grants must 
3.4 	be used to innovate career and technical education programs and delivery methods.
3.5 		Subd. 2.Application. The commissioner of education shall develop the form 
3.6 	and method for applying for the grants. The commissioner shall develop criteria for 
3.7 	determining the allocation of the grants to achieve an equitable distribution based on need.
3.8 		Subd. 3.Grant awards. Grant funding under this section must be split equally 
3.9 	between school districts with any portion of their territory within the seven-county 
3.10 	metropolitan area and all other school districts.
3.11 		Subd. 4.Reports. (a) School districts that receive grant funds shall report to the 
3.12 	commissioner of education no later than November 1 of each year following the grant 
3.13 	receipt regarding the innovations funded by the grant program.
3.14 	(b) By February 1, 2017, the Department of Education shall submit an interim report 
3.15 	on the program to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through 
3.16 	grade 12 policy and finance. The interim report must include:
3.17 	(1) the method and accompanying rationale for how need was determined; and
3.18 	(2) which districts received money in year one of the program and what the grants 
3.19 	were used for.
3.20 	(c) By February 1, 2018, the Department of Education shall submit a final report 
3.21 	on the program to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through 
3.22 	grade 12 policy and finance. The final report must include:
3.23 	(1) any changes to the method for how need was determined;
3.24 	(2) which districts received money in year one of the program and what the grants 
3.25 	were used for;
3.26 	(3) the ongoing necessity of the grant program; and
3.27 	(4) any recommended changes to the program if it were to continue.

3.28 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION.
 3.29 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
3.30 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
3.31 	designated.
3.32 		Subd. 2.Equipment grants. For career and technical education equipment grants 
3.33 	under section 1:

4.1		$
	5,000,000
	.....
	2016
	
4.2		$
	5,000,000
	.....
	2017
	
4.3 		Subd. 3.Staffing grants. For career and technical education staffing grants under 
4.4 	section 2:

4.5		$
	2,000,000
	.....
	2016
	
4.6		$
	2,000,000
	.....
	2017
	
4.7 		Subd. 4.Innovation grants. For career and technical education innovation grants 
4.8 	under section 3:

4.9		$
	1,000,000
	.....
	2016
	
4.10		$
	1,000,000
	.....
	2017